168 - Assessment of dental knowledge and evaluation of dental practices of pediatric dental patientsand their caregivers in a diverse, multicultural, low socio-economic population who is at high-risk for dental caries

Identifying risk factors for pediatric cavities in a high-risk population
Hales, Kelly L. Cervellione, Herman

Purpose: To identify risk factors for cavities in pediatric patients at high-risk for dental caries in
a diverse, multicultural, low socio-economic population

Methods: A 39-question survey was administered to caregivers of pediatric dental patients.
Information on demographics, culture, dental practices, nutrition and family dental history
were collected. Independent sample t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare
characteristics between children with and without history of cavities; p<.05 was considered
significant.
Forty-one caregivers in a low socio-economic, largely immigrant area were surveyed. Mean age
of children was 7.5 years (range 2-12), 54% male, 12% born outside the US, and 73% of
caregivers born outside the US (primarily South and Central America, East Asia). 21 (51%)
reported the child had history of cavities and 10 (25%) reported no history (others responded
unsure and were not included). Overall, dental practices were suboptimal and nutritional habits
were fair. Children who had cavities were not significantly different from those that did not in
terms of demographics, socioeconomic status, eating or drinking habits, or dental
hygiene practices. A larger proportion of children who had cavities began seeing a dentist after
3-years-old (44%vs.10%). Children whose parents had histories of childhood cavities were more
likely to have cavities themselves (89%vs.78%). Children of caregivers who had not seen a
dentist in the past year were more likely to have cavities (80%vs.33%). 

Conclusion: In pediatric dental patients who are all at high risk for dental caries, poor
nutritional and dental hygiene practices did not differentiate between children that had cavities
and did not.